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Phenomenological model and working mechanism of bio-inspired polymeric composites driven by water gradient

Haibao Lu (Science and Technology on Advanced Composites in Special Environments Laboratory, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China.)
Aying Zhang (National Key Laboratory of Science and Technology on Advanced Composites in Special Environments, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China)
Yongtao Yao (Science and Technology on Advanced Composites in Special Environments Laboratory, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, China)
Long Lin (Department of Colour and Polymer Chemistry, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK)

Pigment & Resin Technology

ISSN: 0369-9420

Article publication date: 4 January 2016

198

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to present a phenomenological model to investigate the underlying mechanism and predict the bio-inspired performance under different thermo-temporal conditions.

Design/methodology/approach

Flory-Rehner free-energy functions are applied to quantitatively identify the driving forces in the viscously bio-inspired response of a dynamic polymer network. Furthermore, the permeation transition equation is adopted to couple water gradient and water sorption/desorption into the free-energy function.

Findings

The results show that the influence of potential energy on deformation can be related to a stretching ratio that uniquely determines water sorption/desorption, locomotion frequency and contractile stress. Finally, by means of combining the free-energy function and Arrhenius equation, a phenomenological thermo-temporal model is developed and verified by the experimental results.

Research limitations/implications

This study focuses on exploring the theoretical mechanism and significantly enhances understanding of relevant experimental features reported previously.

Originality/value

The outcome of this study will provide a powerful phenomenological and quantitative tool for study on shape memory effect in bio-inspired polymers.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This work has been financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC) (Grant No. 11422217 and No.11402066), Program for New Century Excellent Talents in University (Grant No. NCET-13-0172) and the Foundation for the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of PR China (Grant No. 201328).

Citation

Lu, H., Zhang, A., Yao, Y. and Lin, L. (2016), "Phenomenological model and working mechanism of bio-inspired polymeric composites driven by water gradient", Pigment & Resin Technology, Vol. 45 No. 1, pp. 62-70. https://doi.org/10.1108/PRT-04-2015-0040

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2016, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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